CHESTER — Few sights could be as unwelcomed to a struggling team as the prospect of walking into CenturyLink Field in Seattle to face a Sounders team unbeaten in its last four.

That is the predicament the Philadelphia Union must contend with this week as it heads west for its toughest test of the young season at arguably its most vulnerable juncture.

A one-win team venturing into one of the most hostile locales in American soccer to face MLS’s early-season leaders could have disaster written all over it. John Hackworth, however, realizes the importance of remaining level-headed in the face of the pressure and praised him team for their response to last week’s loss in Montreal.

For a team struggling as the Union (1-2-5, 8 points) are, the focus has to first and foremost be on cleaning up the aspects of their game that have led to dropped points in the past.

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“The players have responded well,” Hackworth said. “They’re all frustrated. They all know that to each one of them, they are capable of making a play when called upon. The reality is that we haven’t had guys make that play, and they all take responsibility for that. But I think there’s a belief within that locker room that they do have the capability to do it, so I think the response from them, albeit very frustrated and looking very deep inside themselves and at how we do things and what we do, there’s still a confidence that those guys are capable of making that final play.”

Given Seattle’s hot form, it will take a little more than just the Union shoring up their weaknesses to get a result in the Pacific Northwest.

The Sounders (5-2-1, 16 points) are firing on all cylinders. They have scored 18 goals in eight games. Clint Dempsey has eight goals this season, one fewer than the entire Union squad. (That’s a Union squad that hasn’t scored a goal from the run of play in three games.)

Dempsey (two assists) and Nigerian designated player Obafemi Martins (three goals, four assists) have formed the potent strike partnership that was envisioned last summer when the former arrived from English club Fulham. Add in major contributions from Lamar Neagle (three goals) and known Union killer Kenny Cooper (two goals), and the Sounders have a varied arsenal of ways to hurt opponents.

That will put a major onus on a Union defense that has been prone to breakdowns at inopportune moments.

“He’s a great player and if he’s not scoring he’s setting up a lot of goals in the run of play,” Union defender Ray Gaddis said of Dempsey. “… If it’s not one way he’s trying to beat you, he’s beating you another way. We have to be cohesive as a team and not only focus on Clint Dempsey but they have the likes of Martins, and Neagle’s playing well. The team is just in good form.”

Despite the lack of results and the daunting task that lies ahead of them, the Union’s morale continues to be high. Expectations are low this week, with prevailing wisdom predicting Seattle running roughshod over their struggling visitors, but that doesn’t mean the team isn’t looking forward to the challenge.

“You know what to expect when you go to Seattle,” Maurice Edu said. “For us, it’s exciting. You want to go and play against good teams. You want to go and play in front of good crowds in good atmospheres. I think if you can’t get motivated for that game and get up for that kind of challenge, you’re in the wrong sport. I think all the guys will be eager to go up there and try to get a good performance and a good win.”